Map view
Chamonix
- Chamonix-Mont-Blanc is a commune situated in the French Alps just north of Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in Western Europe
- It was the site of the first Winter Olympics, held in 1924
- It is one of the oldest ski resorts in France, popular with alpinists and mountain enthusiasts
Courchevel
- Courchevel is a French Alps ski resort located in the Tarentaise Valley
- It is a part of Les Trois Vallées, the largest linked ski areas in the world
- Sports events from the 1992 Winter Olympics and the 2023 World Ski Championships took place in Courchevel
- The ski resort is considered exclusive, attracting wealthy clientele including royal families
- It hosts one of the largest concentrations of 5-star ranking luxury hotels
Sénanque Abbey, Gordes
- Sénanque Abbey is a Cistercian abbey near the village of Gordes, in Provence
- It was founded in 1148 by Cistercian monks who came from Mazan Abbey in the Ardèche
- Temporary huts housed the first community of impoverished monks
- Currently, the monks who live at Sénanque grow lavender and tend honey bees for their livelihood
Les Deux Alpes
- Les 2 Alpes is a ski resort in the French department of Isère, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
- The village has the largest skiable glacier in Europe and is France's second oldest ski resort behind Chamonix
- It has the longest, normally open full on-piste vertical available in the world
Le Puy du Fou, Les Epesses
- Le Puy du Fou is a historical theme park in Les Epesses
- It receives more than 2 million visitors every year, making it one of the most popular theme parks in France
- The main show takes place in the evening on an outdoor stage, and tells the story of 700 years of history in the area
- The Cinéscénie is the largest stage in the world, having 1,200 actors, hundreds of horses, and about 800 fireworks per performance
Disneyland Paris, Marne-la-Vallée
- Disneyland Paris is an entertainment resort in Marne-la-Vallée, located about 32 kilometres (20 miles) from Paris
- It encompasses two theme parks, seven Disney-owned hotels, two convention centers, a golf course, an arena, and a shopping, dining and entertainment complex
- Disneyland Paris is Europe's most-visited theme park
Walt Disney Studios Park, Marne-la-Vallée
- Walt Disney Studios Park is a theme park located in Marne-la-Vallée, and is part of the Disneyland Paris resort
- It opened in 2002, and serves as the second theme park at the resort, the first being Disneyland Park
- The park is designed to resemble a Hollywood movie studio and is divided into several distinct areas: Front Lot, Toon Studios, Production Courtyard, and Backlot
- Walt Disney Studios Park features attractions based on popular Disney and Pixar films, as well as Marvel characters
- The park encourages guests to engage with characters and settings from various films, such as those from Toy Story, Finding Nemo, and Ratatouille
Morzine
- Morzine is a traditional market town located in the French Alps, specifically within the Portes du Soleil ski area, which is one of the largest ski regions in the world
- In winter, it is renowned for its extensive skiing and snowboarding opportunities, offering access to around 650 kilometers of ski terrain
- The town is characterized by its chalets and is set in a river gorge surrounded by partially wooded slopes
Old Town Nice
Best time to visit: mid-March-April, Sept-Oct
- Old Town Nice, known as Vieux Nice, is a historic district in Nice, characterized by its narrow, winding streets
- This area resembles a medieval village, featuring tall tenement houses with red-tile roofs, colorful buildings, and a mix of small shops, restaurants, and open-air markets
Mont-Saint-Michel, Normandy
Best time to visit: June-Aug
- Mont-Saint-Michel is a tidal island and commune located in Normandy, renowned for its medieval architecture, particularly the Abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel, which rises from the rocky islet
- It is surrounded by vast sandbanks and experiences some of the highest tides in the world, which can vary by up to 15 meters (about 49 feet)
- Mont-Saint-Michel has been a significant pilgrimage site since its founding as a religious sanctuary in 708 AD
- It was dedicated to St. Michael and became one of the most important pilgrimage destinations in medieval Europe
- The island features a village with narrow streets, shops, and residences, alongside the abbey and fortifications
Notre-Dame de Paris
Best time to visit: June-Oct
- Notre-Dame de Paris is a medieval Catholic cathedral located on the Île de la Cité, an island in the River Seine in Paris
- It is one of the most famous examples of Gothic architecture and has been a significant religious and cultural landmark for over 860 years
- The cathedral was built between the 12th and 14th centuries, taking approximately 182 years to complete
- It is notable for its stunning stained glass windows, flying buttresses, and intricate sculptures
- It has inspired numerous works of art and literature, including Victor Hugo's famous novel "The Hunchback of Notre-Dame"
Jardin du Luxembourg, Paris
Best time to visit: June-Oct
- The Jardin du Luxembourg is located in Paris
- The creation of the garden began in 1612 when Marie de' Medici, the widow of King Henry IV, constructed the Luxembourg Palace as her new residence
- The garden today is owned by the French Senate, which meets in the palace
- It is known for its lawns, tree-lined promenades, tennis courts, flowerbeds, model sailboats on its octagonal Grand Bassin, as well as picturesque Medici Fountain, built in 1620
Eiffel Tower, Paris
Best time to visit: June-Oct
- The Eiffel Tower is a wrought-iron lattice tower located on the Champ de Mars in Paris
- It was designed by engineer Gustave Eiffel and constructed between 1887 and 1889 as part of the preparations for the Exposition Universelle (World's Fair) held in Paris to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution
- Originally intended as a temporary structure, it has become one of the most iconic landmarks in the world
- The tower stands approximately 1,083 feet (330 meters) tall, making it one of the tallest structures in Paris
- Every evening, the Eiffel Tower is illuminated with a golden light and sparkles for five minutes at the start of each hour, and also features a beacon that shines over the city
Louvre, Paris
Best time to visit: June-Oct
- The Louvre is a national art museum located in Paris, renowned as one of the most famous and visited museums in the world
- Originally built as a fortress in the 12th century by King Philip II, it was transformed into a royal palace and later became a public museum during the French Revolution
- The Louvre houses a large collection of art and historical artifacts, totaling nearly 35,000 objects that span over 10,000 years of history
- Notable works include the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo
- As the world's largest museum, it offers a vast array of exhibits and is a central landmark in Paris
Musée d'Orsay, Paris
Best time to visit: June-Oct
- The Musée d'Orsay is a museum in Paris, housed in the former Gare d'Orsay, a Beaux-Arts railway station built between 1898 and 1900
- The museum holds mainly French art dating from 1848 to 1914, including paintings, sculptures, furniture, and photography
- It houses the largest collection of Impressionist and post-Impressionist masterpieces in the world, by painters including Berthe Morisot, Claude Monet, Édouard Manet, Degas, Renoir, Cézanne, Seurat, Sisley, Gauguin, and van Gogh
Arc de Triomphe, Paris
Best time to visit: June-Oct
- The Arc de Triomphe is a monumental arch located on the Champs-Élysées in Paris,
- It was commissioned by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1806 to honor the French army and commemorate those who fought for France during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars
- The construction of the arch took 30 years, with its completion in 1836
- It is an example of 18th-century neoclassicism, inspired by Roman triumphal arches
- The design includes intricate bas-reliefs that depict significant events in French history
- The Arc de Triomphe serves as a symbol of French national identity and patriotism, representing military victories and honoring those who sacrificed their lives for the country
Sacré-Cœur, Paris
Best time to visit: June-Oct
- Sacré-Cœur, officially known as the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Paris (Basilique du Sacré-Cœur de Montmartre), is a prominent Catholic church and minor basilica located at the summit of Montmartre Hill in Paris
- The basilica was built between 1873 and 1924, and features a distinctive Romano-Byzantine architectural style, characterized by its white domes and intricate mosaics
- Sacré-Cœur is dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, serving as a shrine for perpetual adoration and divine mercy
Montmartre, Paris
Best time to visit: June-Oct
- Montmartre is a historic district located in Paris, and a large hill that provides views of the city
- Originally an independent village, Montmartre was known for its vineyards and windmills
- Montmartre has been a haven for artists since the late 19th century, attracting famous figures such as Pablo Picasso, Vincent van Gogh, and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec during the Belle Époque
- Today, notable sites include the Sacré-Cœur Basilica, which sits at the summit of the hill, and the Place du Tertre, where artists display their work
Palais Garnier, Paris
Best time to visit: June-Oct
- The Palais Garnier, also known as the Opéra Garnier, is a historic opera house located at the Place de l'Opéra in Paris
- It was inaugurated in 1875 and is renowned for its opulent architecture, which exemplifies the Second Empire style
- It serves as a venue for various performances, including opera, ballet, concerts, and recitals
- The building is not only an important cultural site but also a symbol of Paris, comparable to other iconic landmarks such as the Louvre and Notre Dame
Parc Astérix, Plailly
- Parc Astérix is a theme park located approximately 40 kilometers (about 25 miles) north of Paris
- It is themed around the comic book series Asterix, and features a variety of attractions and shows, organized into six distinct themed areas that reflect different historical and cultural settings, including: Gaul, the Roman Empire, Ancient Greece, Egypt, the Vikings, and À Travers le Temps (Through Time)
Avoriaz, Portes du Soleil
- Avoriaz is a prominent ski resort located in the French Alps, specifically within the Portes du Soleil ski area, which is one of the largest ski domains in the world
- It is renowned for its excellent snow conditions and is often considered the snowiest ski resort in France
Rhône River
- The Rhône River is a river in France and Switzerland, that originates from the Rhône Glacier in the Swiss Alps
- The Rhône is the second-longest river in France, eventually emptying into the Mediterranean Sea
- The Rhône has played a crucial role in trade and transportation throughout history, serving as a vital waterway in Europe
Seine River
- The Seine River is a river in northern France, and flows northwesterly through Paris before emptying into the English Channel at Le Havre
- The Seine flows through several important cities, including Paris, Rouen, and Troyes, and is spanned by numerous bridges in Paris
- The river has been a vital transportation route and a source of inspiration for artists and writers throughout history
Val-d'Isère
- Val-d'Isère is a commune of the Tarentaise Valley, in the Savoie department (Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region)
- The western and central areas of Val d'Isère are most recognizable by their "chalet" architecture, while in the eastern part of the town high-rise architecture dominates the landscape
- The Tarentaise Valley has the largest concentration of world-class ski resorts in the world